Wanna try something new? Trail SL 29’er makes an ideal first mountain bike. The big wheels roll over obstacles with ease, absorb bumps and maintain momentum better. Give yourself an edge.
Submitted by
Cdale_29er
a Weekend Warrior
from San Antonio, TX, USA
Date Reviewed: December 14, 2011
Strengths: Light weight
Very fast
Matte orange color is classy
Weaknesses: 80mm travel, Most 29ers in this price range have 100mm of travel.
Kenda SB8 are terrible on even slightly moist dirt.
Bottom Line:
I'm 6'3" 270lbs, and this bike has worked like a dream! It is very light weight for a XL frame. Very fast bike. The bike is beautiful to look at, especially in the Matte Saffron Metallic color in the 2012 line. Components are entry level, but I only put in about 60 miles a week so they will do for now. The Kenda small block 8 tires it comes with are lightening quick on hard pack and pavement, but are useless in even moist soil. I switched out the front tire to a Kenda Nevegal, and very happy with the results. Cannondale's website states that it comes with locking grips, but they are slip on. My LBS switched them out as a warranty issue. Overall I am very pleased with this bike.
Bike Setup: 2012 XL frame. Stock components. Kenda Nevegal front tire, Crank brothers Mallet pedals
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Submitted by
Cormac
a Cross Country Rider
from South Bend, Indiana
Date Reviewed: October 28, 2011
Strengths: Solid frame, light weight, fast.
Decent shifters, derailleurs and brakes.
The Kenda SB8s have great grip on dry hard trails.
Weaknesses: Entry level components, but they are just fine. Fork is makes a clicking noise. But like I said entry level, so I didn't expect much from the fork.
Bottom Line:
Great bike. I think for the price you can't get a better 29er. It's a great entry into the 29er family and will make you a 29er rider for life! I can't see myself going back to a 26" tire really ever.
For being a hardtail it doesn't really beat you up to bad. But then I'm always standing on the rough sections anyway. Maybe the SAVE micro suspension that makes up the chainstay actually works to some extent? I can't say for sure.
The bike as I have it set up weighs in at 30lbs. Removed the small and large chian rings and run it on the 32 tooth front sprocket only. The 8 cogs on the cassette give me plenty of gears to chose from and I'm not that strong a rider yet. Only been riding since July and on this bike since the beginning of October.
People say there is a learning curve to cornering on a 29er vs. 26. I didn't notice any. I can rail corners on this thing better than I could on my friends borrowed 26" full suspension bike. And the bike keeps it's speed better too! Which is nice. Also handles just fine on the technical stuff, roots and rocks.
The whole bike is very solid. I beat the hell outta this bike on the trails around here and have had no problems. Even crashed a few times. Once was pretty hard and didn't even turn the bars after hitting a tree. A few minor paint nicks here and there from falling in rocks once, other than that still looks like new after a month of hard riding!
If your budget minded like I am, and your looking for a new bike. You really can't go wrong with this one. Gave it 4 chillis overall since the components are entry level. But will be upgraded when they break or wear out. The way things are going, I don't expect I'll be replacing anything anytime soon. Except the pedals are garbage. So they gotta go.
Bike Setup: Mostly stock with Peaty Lock-on grips. Converted to 1x8 drive train.
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Submitted by
JAPH
a Cross Country Rider
from Albuquerque, NM, USA
Date Reviewed: October 15, 2011
Strengths: good frame geometry, excellent smooth welds, wheelset, shifters, nice fork, lockout, whole setup is light
Weaknesses: brakepads work alright, but not great. Pedals are fairly flimsy and don't grip much at all.
Bottom Line:
Good value, very smooth ride. Fork rebounds quickly and smoothly without bouncing. Do yourself a favor and replace the pedals on day one. The brake pads aren't great, but they're not bad either. The whole setup is fairly light. Cornering feels firm and smooth.
I ride mostly around the city, and this bike handles everything I throw at it: roads, alleys, curbs, stairs, construction sites.
Submitted by
emooreart
a Weekend Warrior
from Staten Island
Date Reviewed: June 5, 2011
Strengths: light frame. Nice shifters. Fork lockout. Rims can take a beating. Smooth disc brakes.
Weaknesses: Pedals! Pedals! Pedals! And the handle bars are way too wide.
Bottom Line:
I put this bike through Blue and Black trails in Wolf Pond in Staten Island, NY. Other then picking twigs out of the brake disks it was fine. I was sure I bent the rims a few times. But nothing.
This is a great bike for trails or the street with the right tires. I'm actually thinking about making some minor mods and turning it into a cyclecross bike
Bike Setup: Other then the pedals, stock. I cut 1 1/2 off of each side of the handlebars
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Submitted by
Billi
a Weekend Warrior
from Savannah
Date Reviewed: May 29, 2011
Strengths: Great value for money, for a MTB newbie this bike makes it easy, stable handling, this thing just rolls over logs.
Weaknesses: I love the Kenda SB8 tires on my cross bike in a 700x33-35, but these tires are a different animal. They have a lot of volume, but could really use more tread in this size. Fork has lockout, and preload, but no rebound adj.
Bottom Line:
I think some of the reviews on this bike may not be on the 29er Trail4, based on the price paid. MSRP is $799. I think the seat is very good.
Excellent introduction to the 29'er concept or trail riding in general. I'm no crazy-legs Magilicutty when it comes to mountain bikes. I know what I want, I know what I like and I wanted a bike that was trail worthy yet street friendly so the slog from the house to the trail didn't feel like it was set in wet cement. I also liked the Trail SL 29'er based on the experience I had with the previous year's model. Graphics: Awesome. Components: Adequate.
I always felt the (medium) frame on my 2009 was just a hair too small for me.
I went with the large frame on the 2010 model and gave the 2009 to my lovely bride with no regrets. While the 2010 does include Kenda Small Block tires, I'd recommend upgrading. I also added a U.S.E XCR Sumo suspension seat post and a new saddle: it made the bike much more comfortable and my endurance shot up as a result. Test ride one where ever you can find them! They seem to be in short supply.
Similar Products Used: 2009 Cannondale 29'er 4, GT and others
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Submitted by
tonyd007
a Weekend Warrior
from Washington D.C.
Date Reviewed: May 29, 2010
Strengths: Everything.
Weaknesses: Stock Seat kinda hurts. The fork is not a Rock Shox or a Fox, but it is still very very good. The brakes are not Elixir CR's or XTR's, but they are still very good and are hydraulic. The rest of the components are not top of the line either, but everything works very very well together.
Bottom Line:
There is no other 29er for $1000 that comes close to this. The Fisher Cobia can't compare, neither can the Specialized Rockhopper. This bike flat out rips. I have been riding it all over DC for the past 2 months and have had a blast. This bike is FAST and very stable. I can hang with almost any bike I see and most of the bikes I see are road bikes that are supposed to be a lot faster than mountain bikes in the city. I blast down hills and ride through the streets and in traffic like its nothing. The 29" wheels provide superb stability over the 26" wheels without much compromise in steering and turning ability. This things handles like a charm. Steering is very smooth, yet snappy and responsive. I can transition from flying through traffic riding very aggressively to the sidewalk with pedestrians with ease. This thing brakes hard and handles like a dream. I can take small jumps and get about a foot or air with ease. I can do stairs like they aren't even there. For Washington DC, 29ers are absolutely the way to go. They are just better suited for city riding with a mixture of off road riding than 26ers. For $1000 it does not get much better than this. I tested every single 29er I could find including the Cannondale Flash Carbon 2, Cannondale Flash 3, Specialized Stumpjumper Comp, GF Paragon, GF Cobia, Giant, and Specialized Rockhopper. This bike road almost as good as the Flash Carbon for $2300 less. I honestly liked this one over the Flash 3 even. You will not be dissapointed with this bike. The components could be of a higher grade, but are FAR from cheap. The Tektro hydraulic brakes rock and grip hard. The Deore shifters shift fast and smooth. The Deuce fork is not a Rock Shox or Fox, but it is FAR from cheap. The fork is very well made and feels very good and smooth when riding. There is also full lock out.
Bottom line is this: If you want something cheap, quality, and fun this is your bike. This is almost as good as it gets for under $2000 and this is at the bottom of the spectrum in price, which is saying a lot because there are lots of bikes in this category. If you don't feel like spending $2000+, then this is as good as it gets.
Submitted by
husabergrider
a Weekend Warrior
from Spokane, WA, USA
Date Reviewed: May 12, 2010
Strengths: Pretty light compared to my FS Bike 30.5 lbs in XL frame size, strong frame. I weigh #255 and am not easy on bikes, and the whole package seems strong and durable. Nice looking artwork on the frame too. Will probably go tubeless soon and that will probably put it under 30 lbs, these 29" wheels make rolling over stuff and climbing way easier! Effortlessly maintaining traction with the Kenda Small Block 8's! Super easy adjustable fork.
Weaknesses: I could use a little larger rotors, but most other riders should be fine.... its a weight thing! The fork makes some noise (a whooshing sound) as it goes through its stroke, it works great and is a good value, it just isn't a fox-shock.
Bottom Line:
Good value, solid build, I will keep this bike for a long time! If you want cannondale quality, and a smooth riding 29er without breaking the bank this is your bike.
Similar Products Used: Giant Trance X2, Specialized 29er (not as solid feeling a bike and it cost more!), misc. 26" hardtails
Bike Setup: The bike came from REI with the Kenda SB 8's and they are perfect for the spokane area, frame geometry is perfect for me!
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Submitted by
JonnyT
a Weekend Warrior
from Elk Grove, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: May 12, 2010
Strengths: Excellent frame and components for the price. Fork is easy to set up and use. Beautiful finish and look to entire setup.
Weaknesses: If you are doing lots of mud, replace the tires. Stock seat a bit hard...not that you wil be sitting in it much.
Bottom Line:
This is my first 29er and I. LOVE. THIS. BIKE. It does everything I could ask of it without changing a thing. The ride & perfomance are beyond my expectations. For anyone looking or thinking about getting a '29er' you can not go wrong with this bike. It performs well on all types of trails including heavy climbs. I primarily use it for single-track work and I'm happy to say that Cannondale still makes a quality product...buy one and ride!
Similar Products Used: Cannondale 600, Specialized Rockhopper
Bike Setup: Stock....for now
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Submitted by
moosebones
a Cross Country Rider
from thunber bay, ontario, canada
Date Reviewed: March 20, 2010
Strengths: beutiful frame, nice smooth welds. new rst deuce 1.5 air works great 100% lockout with a flick of the switch and damper control. hydraulic disc breaks are plush and work well in all conditions. 29 inch kenda small block eight roll fast over roots, rocks like no other 26 can and can be adjusted from 30-80 psi.
Weaknesses: could be lighter with a few upgrades. recomend an upgrade to a kenda venegal front for better control on wet or muddy terrain
Bottom Line:
cannondale makes legendary bikes and the trail sl 4 29er is no exception. if your looking for your first 29er hardtail for a mix of road and technical trail, look no further. forget the rockhopper's and the gf cobia..comparably this bike cant be beat
[url]http://www.cannondale.com/usa/usaeng/Products/Bikes/Mountain/Hardtail/Trail-SL-29er/Details/1300-0FS294-Trail-SL-29er-4[/url]
i just tested one and I liked it. It was on Read More »
[url]http://www.cannondale.com/usa/usaeng...rail-SL-29er-4[/url]
i just tested one and I liked it. It was on sale for $879. It looks like MSRP looks to be $1059. So I don't kn Read More »
After annoying everyone with multiple threads and questions about what bike to get I am happy to say I pulled the trigger on a Cannondale SL 29er 4 in Green. At first I was not cr Read More »
